Hoof abscess...Dundeel doubtful for Caulfield

Trainer Murray Baker, who will travel from New Zealand to Flemington early in the week, said It’s a Dundeel was still troubled with a hoof abscess that has bothered him now for a couple of days. “We were going to take him to the beach, but ended up not going because he’s still sore,” Baker said. “We hope it (the abscess) is going to pop out his heel. Once it bursts it will be right.”

GODOLPHIN confirmed early Sunday that it will make its 15th bid for Melbourne Cup glory with Royal Empire. Royal Empire entered quarantine after he finished second behind stablemate Secret Number in the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes (2400m) at Ascot. The five-year-old finished 2½ lengths behind Secret Number, who was coming off a sixth in the English St Leger.

Damien Oliver has emerged as the rider of Fiorente for the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup. Oliver will replace Nash Rawiller, who has been sacked following his ride in Saturday's Turnbull Stakes, where he finished fourth behind Happy Trails.

David Hayes plans on sending his talented import Jet Away straight into the Caulfield Cup without another run. After several ‘false-starts’ this Spring with the former import, Jet Away ran an eye-catching seventh behind Happy Trails in Saturday’s Group 1 $500,000 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield, when first-up